I've been looking for threads like this, but couldn't really come up with one.
But yeah..
I'm interested to know how much heavier is the GT models are with the leather seats, sunroof and all that.

Why I'm asking this is cuz.... I've noticed the car's quite significantly slower and less responsive when I'm carrying a fat friend on my right lol , so I'm wondering would a base model car be significantly faster and more responsive than my GT model lol...

 

I once had a guy at a SOLO II in Nashville ask me, "why are you driving that GT model. My (base model) weighs 300 lbs less than yours." I told him he needed the lighter weight advantage to compete with me. He only beat me by 4 seconds on a 50 second course. He said it was a good thing that his faster brother wasn't there for that event.

 

Only 4 seconds?

 

That is why I'm asking actually. My car is 1.5 off the pace on a 45s solo circuit. I honestly doubt the difference is 300lbs, 100-200 maybe, but idk, i would just like to know.
I had a 200lb passenger, and it only put me 0.3 slower than my own pace. I did a 46.038, 46.089 and that passenger run was 46.373, last run was 45.538, but i shifted at an entirely different place, so that might be it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f94U6...ature=youtu.be

 

Not trying to burst ur bubble... but 4 seconds on a 50 secs course is a lot...

 

Sorry, can't you guys take a JOKE? Actually, I've probably been SOLO IIing longer than most of you are old. Not particularly good in the RX-8 though. No disrespect intended. Love the car for DD. Prefer a Datsun 2000 for competition (I know, "what's a Datsun").

 

Thread jack, my buddy has a pretty sweet all original Datsun 1600.

/threadjack.

 

Humor don't translate very well on the internet uh... my bad?
but uh there's one thing, I don't really know what you mean by "not particularly good in the RX-8 though"

 

My memory is getting fuzzy, but back when I used to run my RX-8 in stock class, I want to say the top built base model RX-8's weighed in the 2,800-2,820lbs range, while GT models were about 50-60lbs heavier.

The main weight difference is in the leather seats and the sunroof.

My 'fuzzy' $0.02...

 

Yea, I figure that too team lol... Just got into the sport, didn't expect to jump 20 years of experience and seat time. I'm just mad at myself lol 1.5s off the pace is a lot....

 

And the sunroof adds some 40-50lbs. Then you have the Bose speakers, Navigation, etc. The appearance package is probably another 15-20lbs.

I know the car you're comparing yourself to, they are both excellent drivers. One of them just trophied at Nationals (not in that car). If they had a 1.5s lead on you, it's probably due to experience and/or grip more than anything. As far as carrying a passenger, a track like Daytona is a dorito nightmare with those tight corners to pull out of even without a passenger, but .3s could be just noise.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvNgzTuYM5Q
Might be better to watch it full screen or sth lol... Too much going on.

Run 1 46.038
Run 2 46.089
Run 3 46.373
Run 4 45.538 (Fastest time)

Seems like except for run 3 with a passenger, 1, 2 and 4 are all pretty consistent until the last corner, run 1 & 2 was even faster at some corners than the 4th run), but then the somehow I carried more speed in the 4th run at the last corner and got a WHOAAAA! 0.5s advantage. Now a data logger and a race engineer would come in handy now wouldn't it? lol!

 

My car is the GT Model

I was the fastest RX8 on the West Course at the 2011 Solo National Championships...

Pretty sure all the others were either the Base or Sport model..

Just sayin...

 

My '05 shinka was 2913 lbs with ~1/3 tank of gas when weighed at Atlanta National Tour earlier this year. The car was basically factory stock except for 17lbs battery, bilstein shocks (don't know the exact weight, but they were definitely lighter than Koni yellows) and 19.8 lbs TRM C3 wheels. I recently replaced the heated leather seats with the cloth ones, I would say the difference in weight per seat was only about ~10 lbs, perhaps even less. So my guess is that the weight difference between base and GT model is probably around 60~70lb.

But one big advantage that base models have over GT is actually the extra inch of headroom. I am only 5'11, and my helmet barely clears GT models w/ stock seats.

 

I have only weighed the cloth seat and mis-read a post about the electric leather seat. Here is the correct info for a 2004-2008 model:

So 17.5 lbs difference each

 

Great info, thank you. When I swapped out the seats I was hoping to save a few more lbs, but was a slightly disappointed. But at least I don't slide around any more.

 

Amen brother, every time I drive with my helmet on, i have to open the sunroof and tilt my head to the side.... %*&@(#^*&!$ I'm only 6'0", but being Asian, I have a really long torso... so urgh... I want a seat so badly. just couldn't justify the costs.

 

You've got Works but you cant spend for a $300 seat and brackets...

 

I was thinking about selling my car and getting the same color but in the base model. No TSC/DSC, no Sun roof, no extra audio hardware...it all adds up.

Re-zelse had a GT which he race in autox...he got a wwp base model and he is significantly lighter after moving the same parts to the newer car.

If you are really serious about it...you'll go base.

 

lol.. i sold my stockers for $750, so all i paid was 850...
plus if i really had the cash, I would've gone for volks or advans :P

 

I'm really serious about it...And i've got a GT

 

I guess it also depends on what type and class of racing you are doing. If the weigh savings help put you back on the podium...its worth it. I'm sure I'll have to deal with this next year's season.

 

it can potentially be beneficial, but again it comes down to mostly the driver and to a lesser degree the setup for the prevailing course conditions

 

I think the biggest disadvantage is the headroom I have to stoop in my car Touring model. which has everything except the leather seats and satnav I think. I guess there is a little more weight there but I think the difference is nothing compare to what tires you are running, alignment and pressure etc.

 

unless you're right at the pointy end of the field and looking for every last tenth and hundredth you can find, the weight difference probably isn't going to make a material difference in your finishing position. besides, a lot of us can probably drop some weight for free. i know i could.